Foot support for shower baths

ABSTRACT

Herein is described a foot support device adapted for mounting to the wall of a shower to facilitate the washing and drying of feet and legs. The disclosed embodiment comprises a mounting plate and hinge assembly with a support bar pivotally connected to the hinge assembly for rotational movement between a position of use and a storage position. A foot rest member, having an arched upper surface of resilient material, is pivotally connected to the outer end of the support bar.

United States Patent 1 1 Martin Jan.30, 1973 [54] FOOT SUPPORT FORSHOWER BATHS [76] Inventor: Peter Martin, 20800 Roscoe Bend,

Canoga Park, Calif. 91304 [22] Filed: Dec. 18, 1970 21 App]. No.2 99,581

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D190,624 6/1961 Morrison eta1. ..D4/4 R7,582 3/1877 Stevens ..49/52 508,690 11/1893 Fauber..297/314 649,382 5/1900 Wilckc ..297/68 1,741,505 12/1929 Dalton..248/308 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 10,025 2/1903 Great Britain..248/240.4 281,170 12/1927 Great Britain ..248/240 1,104,776 2/1968Great Britain ..248/308 Primary ExaminerHouston S. Bell, Jr. AssistantExaminer-Donald B. Massenberg Att0rneyLawrence V. Link, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT Herein is described a foot support device adapted formounting to the wall of a shower to facilitate the washing and drying offeet and legs. The disclosed embodiment comprises a mounting plate andhinge assembly with a support bar pivotally connected to the hingeassembly for rotational movement between a position of use and a storageposition. A foot rest member, having an arched upper surface ofresilient material, is pivotally connected to the outer end of thesupport bar.

6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAN 30 1925 SHEET 1 [IF 2 P575?Mswr/A/ INVENTOR.

W W /Mk 9+ ATTORNEY FOOT SUPPORT FOR SHOWER BATI-IS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to a foot support device adapted to bemounted in a shower bath to facilitate the washing and drying of feetand legs.

While showering, the washing and drying of a persons feet and legspresents a problem of maintaining ones balance. Depending upon thephysical agility of a person, the standing on one foot while washing anddrying the other causes a greater or lesser degree of inconvenience, andcan result in serious injuries from falls induced therefrom.

Prior foot support devices which have attempted to resolve this problemhave not proven successful for a number of functional and economicreasons. In particular some of these prior art devices have beencumbersome to use and/or were in the way when not in use. A significantaspect of the subject invention is the recognition of the need for afoot support device which may be permanently installed in a shower suchthat it is convenient to use; and which although readily available foruse is easily pivoted to an out of the way storage position. Also thevalue of such a device is enhanced if the foot rest member automaticallyassumes the angular position most convenient for each of variousconditions of use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the subjectinvention to provide a new and improved foot support device for showerbaths.

Another object is to provide a foot support device for showers which maybe permanently installed to a wall of the shower in a positionconvenient for washing, rinsing and drying feet and legs, and which maybe pivoted to an out of the way storage position when not in use.

Yet another object is to provide a foot support device for showerswherein the foot rest member is pivotal so that it may assume differentangular positions required for each one of various conditions of use.

Still another object is to provide a foot support device for showerswhich has sufficient structural strength to support a large part of theweight of a person, and yet is simple and economical to manufacture andinstall.

In accordance with one preferred embodiment, the subject inventioncomprises a mounting plate and hinge assembly adapted to be mounted tothe wall of a shower in a location convenient for the washing andrinsing of the feet and legs. A support bar is pivotally connected tothe hinge assembly so as to be rotatable between a horizontal positionof use and an approximately vertical position of storage. A foot restmember is pivotally connected to the outer end of the support bar suchthat it may assume any number of positions between horizontal and aselected maximum inclination angle, such as 45, for example. The uppersurface of the foot rest member has an arched section of resilientmaterial, such as rubber, and the face thereof may have a corrugatedpattern.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The novel features which arecharacteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and methodof construction and operation, together with further objects andadvantages thereof will be better understood from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in whichthe illustrative embodiment of the invention is disclosed and whereinlike reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the subject inventionshown in a position for use, with a shower wall to which it is mountedshown in section;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the foot supportdevice shown in a position for out of the way storage;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are front plan and side views, respectively, of themounting plate and hinge assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are side and front views, respectively, of the support barshown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are side and end views, respectively, of the foot restmember shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 9 is a side view of an assembly pin and O-ring for mounting thesupport bar to the hinge assembly.

DESCRIPTIONOF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings,one preferred embodiment of the subject invention is there shown ascomprising a mounting plate-hinge assembly 10, a support bar 12 and afoot rest member 14.

Mounting plate-hinge assembly 10, shown in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4,includes a rectangular mounting plate 16 with hinge plate members 18 and20 mounted normally thereto by welding or bronzing, for example. Aplurality of holes 22 are formed in plate 16 to allow for mounting to ashower wall 24 (FIG. 1

I-Iinge members 18 and 20 are positioned on the plate 16 with sufficientseparation therebetween to allow for the insertion of support bar 12.The members 18 and 20 are identical, each having a hole 26 formedtherein, and a diagonal slot 28 in its lower surface.

A hole 30 in support bar 12 is so located that when aligned with hole26, bar 12 may be rotatably mounted between plates 18 and 20 i.e., end32 of bar 12 clears plate 16. A pin 34 protrudes from both sides of bar12, and vertical post 36 (FIG. 5) is integrally formed on the outer endof the bar. As shown in FIG. 6, a slot 38 in post 36 forms a yoke 40,and a hole 42 is formed through both legs thereof. 7

Foot rest member 14 (FIGS. 7 and 8) includes a bracket 44 comprising afoot support plate 46, and a leg 48 with a heel portion 50. A resilientrubber arched pad 47 is bonded to the upper face of plate 46 and mayhave a corrugated pattern to provide a non-slip surface.

In the assembly of the foot support device, an assembly pin 52 (FIG. 9)is inserted through holes 26 and 30 in hinge members 18 and 20 andsupport bar 12. The pin is retained in position by O-rings or snap rings54 in annular grooves 56 on the ends of pin52. Foot rest member 14 isrotatably mounted on yoke 40 by a pin 58 through hole 42 and a hole 60in plate bracket The foot support device of the subject invention may bemounted to the wall 24 of a shower bath by means of molly bolts 62, forexample. The mounting location on wall 24 is preferably selected suchthat the foot rest member 14 is in the path of the main stream of theshower spray to facilitate the rinsing of the legs and feet.

In use, the support bar 12 is rotated to the position shown in FIG. 1and is firmly retained in a horizontal position by the engagement of pin34 in the slots 28 of hinge plates 18 and 20. Under some conditions ofuse such as the washingof feet by a person standing rather close to thedevice, the foot rest member 14 is firmly positioned by the engagementof the heel portion 50 and the upper surface of support bar 12. For thewashing of legs and/or when the user is further removed from the device,the member 14 is free to pivot on pin 58 to assume the inclination anglewhich is most convenient. The maximum inclination angle of foot restmember 14, such as 45, for example, is determined by the engagement ofthe front face 64 of leg 48 with the central surface 66 of yoke 40 (FIG.6).

An important aspect of the subject invention is that when the footsupport device is not being used it may be rotated to an out of the waystorage position as shown in FIG. 2. In the storage position the centerof gravity of the support bar 10 and foot rest 14 combination, is inback of the hinge pin 52, thereby providing positive storagepositioning.

Another important feature of the invention is that the device is sturdyenough to support a large portion of a persons weight, and yet iscompact and economical to manufacture. For example, in the illustratedembodiment shown approximately to scale, the overall length of supportbar 12 is approximately 6.5 inches and is formed from 58-inch steelstock; hinge plates 18 and 20 are about 3.5 inches in length; and plate46 of the foot rest member is 2 /4 by 2 34 inches.

Having thus described a novel and improved foot support device forshowers which is efficient, convenient and economical, what is claimedis:

l. A foot support device adapted for mounting to the wall of a shower,said device comprising:

a mounting plate having a pair of hinge plate members mounted thereon,with said hinge plate members each having a diagonal slot formed in thelower edge thereof;

a support bar pivotally mounted between said hinge plate members, saidsupport bar having a post formed on one end thereof with said post beingslotted to form a yoke having two legs;

position stop means for preventing the rotation of said support bar pasta selected position of use, said position stop means including a pinprotruding through'said support bar and positioned thereon so as toengagesaid hinge plates at the end of said slots when said support baris in said position of use, whereby said support bar may be rotatedbetween said selected position of use and a position of storage;

a foot rest member comprising a bracket of a T- shaped cross sectionhaving a foot support plate and a leg; and I connecting means forpivotably connecting said footrest member to said support bar, saidconnecting means including a pin inserted through holes in the le s ofsaid yoke and in the leg of said bracket. 2. A foo support deviceadapted for mounting to the wall of a shower, said device comprising:

a mounting plate having a pair of hinge plate members mounted thereon,with said hinge plate members each having a hole formed therein;

a support bar having a hole formed therein;

mounting means for pivotally mounting said support bar between saidhinge plate members, said mounting means including a pair of O-rings,and an assembly pin inserted through said holes in said support bar andsaid hinge plate members, said assembly pin having an annular grooveformed on each end and being retained in place by said 0- rings disposedwithin said grooves;

position stop means for preventing the rotation of said support bar pasta selected position of use; and

a foot rest member connected to said support bar at one end thereof;

whereby said support bar may be rotated between said selected positionof use and a position of storage.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said bracket leg has a heel portionadapted for engagement with an upper surface of said support bar,thereby defining a maximum position of rotation of said foot rest memberin one direction.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the front edge of said bracket leg isadapted for engagement with a portion of said yoke adjacent to thebottom of said slot, thereby defining the maximum position of rotationof said foot'rest member in the other direction.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said foot rest member includes aresilient pad, having a corrugated pattern formed on its upper surface,bonded to the upper surface of said foot support plate.

6. The device of claim 2 wherein said selected position of use isapproximately horizontal, said position of storage is above the positionof use by more than and said support bar and foot rest member areconfigured such that when the support bar is in the position of storage,the center of gravity of said support bar and foot rest membercombination is behind the location of said assembly pin.

1. A foot support device adapted for mounting to the wall of a shower,said device comprising: a mounting plate having a pair of hinge platemembers mounted thereon, with said hinge plate members each having adiagonal slot formed in the lower edge thereof; a support bar pivotallymounted between said hinge plate members, said support bar having a postformed on one end thereof with said post being slotted to form a yokehaving two legs; position stop means for preventing the rotation of saidsupport bar past a selected position of use, said position stop meansincluding a pin protruding through said support bar and positionedthereon so as to engage said hinge plates at the end of said slots whensaid support bar is in said position of use, whereby said support barmay be rotated between said selected position of use and a position ofstorage; a foot rest member comprising a bracket of a T-shaped crosssection having a foot support plate and a leg; and connecting means forpivotably connecting said footrest member to said support bar, saidconnecting means including a pin inserted through holes in the legs ofsaid yoke and in the leg of said bracket.
 1. A foot support deviceadapted for mounting to the wall of a shower, said device comprising: amounting plate having a pair of hinge plate members mounted thereon,with said hinge plate members each having a diagonal slot formed in thelower edge thereof; a support bar pivotally mounted between said hingeplate members, said support bar having a post formed on one end thereofwith said post being slotted to form a yoke having two legs; positionstop means for preventing the rotation of said support bar past aselected position of use, said position stop means including a pinprotruding through said support bar and positioned thereon so as toengage said hinge plates at the end of said slots when said support baris in said position of use, whereby said support bar may be rotatedbetween said selected position of use and a position of storage; a footrest member comprising a bracket of a T-shaped cross section having afoot support plate and a leg; and connecting means for pivotablyconnecting said footrest member to said support bar, said connectingmeans including a pin inserted through holes in the legs of said yokeand in the leg of said bracket.
 2. A foot support device adapted formounting to the wall of a shower, said device comprising: a mountingplate having a pair of hinge plate members mounted thereon, with saidhinge plate members each having a hole formed therein; a support barhaving a hole formed therein; mounting means for pivotally mounting saidsupport bar between said hinge plate members, said mounting meansincluding a pair of O-rings, and an assembly pin inserted through saidholes in said support bar and said hinge plate members, said assemblypin having an annular groove formed on each end and being retained inplace by said O-rings disposed within said grooves; position stop meansfor preventing the rotation of said support bar past a selected positionof use; and a foot rest member connected to said support bar at one endthereof; whereby said support bar may be rotated between said selectedposition of use and a position of storage.
 3. The device of claim 1wherein said bracket leg has a heel portion adapted for engagement withan upper surface of said support bar, thereby defining a maximumposition of rotation of said foot rest member in one direction.
 4. Thedevice of claim 3 wherein the front edge of said bracket leg is adaptedfor engagement with a portion of said yoke adjacent to the bottom ofsaid slot, thereby defining the maximum position of rotation of saidfoot rest member in the other direction.
 5. The device of claiM 1wherein said foot rest member includes a resilient pad, having acorrugated pattern formed on its upper surface, bonded to the uppersurface of said foot support plate.